When we speak of plastic surgery, one often tends to think of aesthetic or cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery, the ¨least¨ well known area of this specialty, can repair, by means of ingenious techniques, the way and/or function of any part of the human body that has been affected by accidents, tumors or malformations. As for pediatric plastic surgery, its value and importance are even greater since its beneficiaries, the children have their whole life ahead of them. A large percentage of these patients need to consult with more than one specialist. At AestheticArgentina we are committed to raising money so that we are able to provide a comprehensive and caring solution to children who suffer from pathologies within the area of pediatric plastic surgery, in one single place with the highest medical and scientific quality. Among many congenital deformities, one of the most common that we help treat is a cleft palate or cleft lip.

Photo: Here are some pictures of Laura, a little girl who has been through the process

Clefts are a major problem in Latin America where there are thousands of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. They aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. And face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache.

We usually operate when the child is about 3 months of age. The repair may be accomplished in one procedure and can help restore the lip to "near normal". The operation will also correct the nasal deformity. The result should be extremely good, but there will always be a scar.

A cleft palate is a split in the roof of the mouth. In the first two months while the mother is carrying the baby, bone and tissue normally grow in from the sides of the upper jaw to join in the middle, thus forming the roof of the mouth (palate) which is also the floor of the nose. Failure of this union results in an opening between the mouth and nose.The palate is usually closed between the ninth and eighteenth month of age. It is preferable to close the palate before the child starts to talk. Speech development will then be able to proceed in a more normal way .

There are thousands of children who can have an improved quality of life just by having access to operations that will help restore their bodies to full functionality.

It just might be the most effective, significant donation to a charity you ever make. 100% of your donation will go towards programs that help children, 0% will go to overhead.

The free cleft surgery your donation will help provide, is a true, modern-day medical miracle: it costs as little as $150 and takes as little as 45 minutes. The ones who are lucky enough to find a free cleft surgery program, not only survive, they thrive. That’s all it takes to give a desperate child not just a new smile, but a new life.

On March 1st, we received an urgent request from EARTHWARD for assistance in acquiring emergency funds to pay medical expenses for a father of a refugee family in Kenya.

"There has been another major development in this case, since the latest website update last week. Peter has become seriously ill. He expects to incur medical expenses in the amount of about $200, and needed another $100 for food for his family.

In addition we still need to raise funds for the construction of the family's future home. We only had about $150 available to send him in response to his urgent request for $300.

If you could possibly find a way to help promote this project, and direct the attention of your website viewers and radio listeners to the above URL in the very short-term, which would hopefully increase donations for this desperate family, we would be extremely appreciative. It may even save lives."

After seeing this urgent request, the Rational Response Squad immediately offered to donate the $150 that was needed. In doing so, RRS also looks forward to further cooperation between EARTHWARD and Atheist Volunteers, part of the RRS family of sites. The Rational Response Squad's audience of over 20,000 should provide much more of the attention that EARTHWARD and the refugees they are helping deserve.

Jude (a.k.a. Judelicious), a Rational Response Squad member is one of the atheist co-founders of this wonderful organization.

AestheticArgentina is a non-profit referral and support service in partnership with The International Aesthetic Foundation & Asociación Piel. They also serve as a peer advisory network connecting you with patients who have had direct personal experience with the procedure or doctor you may be considering. They offer:

* Expert guidance at no cost to those in search of cosmetic or
re-constructive treatments

* An unbiased alternative to the commercial interests of "medical tourism"

* Financial support to further the important work of our partner charities in Latin America via donations received from around the world.

Please visit their excellent site! Atheist Volunteers will definitely be working with Jude and AestheticArgentina, so expect to hear more in the future!